March 20, 2017
Paige Marlatt Dorr
Office: 916.327.5356
Cell: 916.601.8005
Office E-mail: pdorr@cccco.edu
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Community Colleges Board of Governors today honored four professors with the 2016-17 Gerald C. Hayward Award for Excellence in Education. The winners are Marina Broeder (Mission College), Amanda Paskey (Cosumnes River College), Sally Saenger (Santa Barbara City College) and Jo Wen Wu (Fullerton College). Each winner received a commemorative plaque and $1,250.
The Hayward Award for Excellence in Education, established in 1989, is given periodically to community college faculty members who are selected by their peers for demonstrating the highest level of commitment to their students, college and profession. College academic senates nominate award recipients, who are then selected by representatives of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. Winners must have a record of outstanding performance of professional activities, as well as a record of active participation on campus.
“California community colleges have some of the best and brightest educators in higher education, and it is a great privilege to honor these four women for their dedication to our students,” said Board of Governors President Cecilia V. Estolano. “We thank them for their continued leadership, both in and out of the classroom. Their devotion and passion for education exemplifies the mission of the California Community Colleges.”
The 2016-17 Hayward Awards are supported through a grant from the Foundation for California Community Colleges. The award is named in honor of Gerald C. Hayward, who served as chancellor of the California Community Colleges from 1980 to 1985.
Marina Broeder is a part-time English as a second language (ESL) teacher from Mission College who actively practices diversity in the classroom as a human experience. Marina says her “passion for education and commitment to student success informs and drives everything [she does in her] professional and personal life.” She draws from her own immigrant upbringing to empower students from immigrant populations, and much of her work outside the classroom she devotes to outreach efforts to acquaint recent immigrants with college who might otherwise not attend. She teaches ESL to a wide variety of student populations, and has developed innovative and successful techniques to reach students at every age and skill level. She is particularly dedicated to older adult learners, and is an acknowledged expert in teaching strategies for this particular population of students. Along with student advocacy, Marina is a strong supporter of faculty rights. She has voiced her support through her role as an ACE-AFT (Association of College Educators – American Federation of Teachers) union representative and advocated for inclusiveness and equity in the working environment.
Amanda Paskey is an anthropology professor at Cosumnes River College. She frequently seeks out opportunities to learn in both her discipline of anthropology and in her profession of teaching. Materials created for her courses are intentionally developed with access to resources that better suit the needs of diverse students. An active participant in governance and student success initiatives, Amanda has served as department chair for more than six years, been a Curriculum Committee member for more than 11 years and has participated in many other leadership roles. Amanda actively participates in research that has resulted in a true integration of research within her discipline and with learning inside her classroom. As an example, she has collaborated on an archeological project with California State Parks and has forged strong connections to community partners that has resulted in opportunities for students to participate in fieldwork and to present findings at professional conferences. Ultimately, Amanda’s commitment to both teaching and anthropology are noteworthy and speak to her success in her pursuit for workplace and program excellence.
Sally Saenger has taught physical education for 34 years in both credit and noncredit courses at Santa Barbara City College. As a part-time faculty member, Sally takes the extra effort to stay connected to her campus. She has held several local leadership positions including, the Faculty Association Board, the local academic senate, the Continuing Education Instructor’s Executive Board and many others. She works hard to bridge differences in culture, socioeconomic status, age, ability and learning style. Sally has created specific lessons that encourage peer-to-peer learning. Sally designed Santa Barbara City College’s Alternative Paths to Success to fit the needs of students and their designated areas of practice. She has notably spanned disciplines by working with both credit and non-credit faculty to provide programs that link health knowledge with physical fitness to ensure that older adults in the community are served based on their individual needs. Sally is committed to being current in her discipline and continues to seek professional growth through discipline member organizations. On the topic of commitment to education, Sally states, “My passion for teaching and respect for the student keeps me motivated and committed to providing the best educational environment possible.”
Jo Wen Wu is a biology professor from Fullerton College with 26 years of teaching and mentoring experience. She has twice been voted as the college’s Teacher of the Year. Jo Wen has been a primary or assistant leader in eight grants and fellowships that span over 30 years. These grants include work-studies in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education and the California Community Colleges. She has served on six different campus committees and projects and served as the faculty advisor for the Fullerton College’s science club for more than 20 years. To accommodate diverse learning styles, Jo Wen uses innovative techniques spanning various platforms including multimedia and online tutorials, as well as, interactive teaching practices. As the college liaison for two university internship programs targeting minority and disadvantaged students, Jo Wen has offered workshops, written numerous support letters, and created hands-on, project based summer camps that have served 462 high school and 311 middle school students in the past six years. Jo Wen has been a part of the educational community that continues to serve and encourage diverse students towards their individual endeavors.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation composed of 72 districts and 113 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills education and prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. For more information about the community colleges, please visit our website.
